Anchored in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montreal, the interdisciplinary artistic company Onishka – whose name means “wake up” in Anishnabemowin – weaves interconnections between Aboriginal peoples in Quebec, throughout Canada and around the world. The creators of each of the company’s projects work together to develop a way of relating to the world that draws on the full range of philosophies, practices and knowledge from the artist’s diverse heritage.
Onishka’s creative processes are often collaborative. Frequently calling upon knowledge keepers, Onishka’s intergenerational processes are characterized by presence, listening and care for what surrounds us. Artistic practices are not compartmentalized but intermingle with each other.
In Onishka’s creative processes, the relationships that emerge in the world tend to be horizontal. The ways of doing and knowing are non-linear and are based on an ongoing interaction between the artists involved, their communities and their territories and involve a corporeal and multi-sensory practice.